32 Best Restaurants in United Arab Emirates

Although it's in the sleepy end of Karama, it's best to make a reservation as Zagol only fits about 20 people. The food is authentically Ethiopian, and unless you understand Amharic, forget trying to read the menu. Instead, just order the mesob (vegetarian or non), a table-sized dish lined with injera bread that you then use as cutlery to mop up a range of spicy aromatic stew and salad that sit on top. Finish with traditional coffee and popcorn, then go down the road to Bikanervala (an Indian sweets shop) for dessert. Be warned: service is incredibly slow, but it's worth the wait. No alcohol served.

For some grassroots Middle Eastern cuisine without jumping too far out of the box, Al Hallab is perfect. Their pedigree is supreme—more than 100 years of making sweets in Lebanon, and then a foray into savory meals shortly before a very successful expansion all over the region. The Garhoud branch is one of the originals, and serves up excellent quality Levant food every day in plush Arabic surrounds (look out for "grandma's" daily specials and hummus fatteh in particular). Essentially, it's clean, comfortable, and authentic, with plenty of Western options for those who like to keep it simple. There's no alcohol, but a wide range of excellent juices and traditional Middle Eastern beverages. Also look for Downtown and Mall of the Emirates branches. No alcohol served.